Vanessa Barnes

U.S. taxes can be offset by a number of real estate-related credits and deductions, and the IRS offers information on each.

Florida compiled a list of educational documents for the real estate industry to share with homebuyers and sellers.

Energy Incentives for Individuals: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=206875,00.html

Seven Facts about the Non-business Energy Property Credit: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=214979,00.html

First-Time Homebuyer Credit: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204671,00.html

Seven Important Facts about Claiming the First-Time Homebuyer Credit: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=202222,00.html

Five Tips About the First-Time Homebuyer Credit Documentation Requirements: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=219518,00.html

Ten Important Facts about the Extended First-Time Homebuyer Credit: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=215827,00.html

Special Rules for Members of the Military, the Foreign Service
and the Intelligence Community

Congress has acknowledged the unique circumstances affecting members of the military, the foreign service and the intelligence community by making the following exceptions that apply to both the $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers and the $6,500 tax credit for repeat home buyers.

Exemption From Tax Credit Recapture Rules

·   Typically, homes that are sold or that cease to be used as a principal residence within three years of the initial purchase are subject to recapture of the tax credit.

·   However, qualified service members who sell or move from a tax credit home within three years of the initial purchase due to official extended duty are exempt from the recapture rule.

Extension of Tax Credit Deadlines

·   The home buyer tax credit is available for qualified purchases with a binding sales contract in place on or before April 30, 2010 and closed by June 30, 2010.

·   However, for qualified service members who are ordered on a period of official extended duty, these dates are extended for one year. For these home buyers, the tax credit applies to sales with a binding sales contract in place on or before April 30, 2011 and closed by June 30, 2011.

Definitions

·   “Qualified service member” means a member of the uniformed services of the U.S military, a member of the Foreign Service of the U.S., or an employee of the intelligence community.

·   “Official extended duty” means any period of extended duty outside of the United States for at least 90 days during the period beginning after December 31, 2008 and ending before May 1, 2010.